Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, jcasteix@gmail.com)

One of the most difficult—but important—things that a survivor of sexual abuse can do is report the crime and put a predator behind bars. That's what the victims in this case did. They worked with law enforcement to ensure that Jonathan Rose was arrested, convicted and jailed for molesting two little girls.

But to the Jehovah's Witnesses, that was not enough to "prove" Rose's guilt. Allowing a convicted—or a credibly accused predator—to "grill" victims is shocking and disgraceful. It breeds fear in victims that they, too, will be unprotected, revictimized and shunned by their faith community if they are ever brave enough to come forward and report crimes to police.

The Jehovah's Witness elders who participated in this shameful activity should immediately remove themselves from any position of authority in the church, apologize to victims, and immediately rewrite any church rules that would allow "inquisitions" like this to continue. Until then, we have to believe that the Jehovah's Witnesses will only continue to protect and embrace child predators at the risk of children globally.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 18,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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“Going overboard will only discredit you.” That works both ways. Lumping everyone into the same category is usually a reflexive response to either completely dismiss or promote an issue due to bias. While I’m sure there are many good Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is the possibility that some are in fact corrupt and need to be exposed for their criminality. Organizations are comprised of individuals, and individual behavior does reflect on the organization, especially when some make excuses for unacceptable actions. But like I said, there are probably many good Jehovah’s Witnesses out there doing good work. Why you feel you can’t recommend this group to the person you know escapes my understanding.

madison brown commented
2014-05-26 06:52:12 -0500

Hold on there !

Wherever there are humans, this problem exists. But there is no religious organisation that has done more structurally and organisationally to prevent child abuse than Jehovah’s Witnesses. They installed all kinds of procedures as soon as they recognised the gravity of the problem. They protect the victims. They have even preventative procedures before a person has any kind of privileges. They are not perfect. But in speaking with Experts in child abuse they say that Jehovah’s Witnesses are ahead in many aspects of victim prevention and protection.

I know a person who is interested in getting compensation for child abuse suffered in the past, but she is now one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and reading this article, I don’t think I can recommend your group to her.

I am sincerely glad for your sucesses. My heart is with your suffering and I have been waiting for justice to come on this issue. But this article about grilling ??? In an organisation that is doing the most of all to take care of the problem ?

Going overboard will only discredit you.

Wishing you the best success in your individual recoveries and hoping to see more professionalism in your articles.

mbp

Timothy Egan commented
2014-05-24 19:16:47 -0500

*is (why no “edit” option?)

Timothy Egan commented
2014-05-24 19:03:52 -0500

All Christian denominations have been secretly infiltrated by worshipers of Satan. Anyone who still thinks it’s all just a coincidence are sadly mistaken.

Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.